Sox can't pull off sweep of Angels

Less than 24 hours after rallying against the redoubtable Francisco Rodriguez, the White Sox tried to pull another victory out of their caps Sunday.

But this time Paul Konerko's single was all they could muster off Rodriguez, who earned his 55th save as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Sox 3-2 in the finale of a weekend series between first-place teams.

The Sox lost a chance to sweep the Angels but still went home with a 21/2-game lead over the Twins in the American League Central, feeling good about themselves after taking two of three.

"We do that all the way out and we'll give ourselves a good chance," right fielder Jermaine Dye said. "We have to keep winning series, especially against teams like that."

Carlos Quentin's absence didn't prevent the Sox from slugging their way to a 10-2 victory Friday or winning in 15 innings Saturday, when singles by Alexei Ramirez and Nick Swisher started a game-tying rally in the ninth against Rodriguez. Quentin will have a screw inserted into his broken right wrist Monday.

"I'd rather have Carlos in the lineup," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "But I'm really glad about the way Junior [Griffey] and Konerko have started swinging the bat. That will help make it easier. I like the way we're playing right now."

With three weeks left, Rodriguez needs only two more saves to match the single-season record set by the White Sox's Bobby Thigpen in 1990. This isn't exactly like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa stalking Roger Maris, but Rodriguez feels like he's under more scrutiny than ever, especially in his native Venezuela.

"I hope to do it as quickly as possible," Rodriguez said. "I feel like I have 10,000 pounds on my shoulders. I would like to relieve that pressure."

John Danks took a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning but couldn't hold it. He had failed to make it through the fifth in his last two starts. Sunday's effort apparently ended the threat that he could be skipped the next time through the rotation. But was he really that much better?

Danks worked two 1-2-3 innings but had to pitch out of huge jams in the second, third and fourth. That was because the first four runners who reached base against him stole bases, with Danks not giving catcher Toby Hall much of a chance to slow down the running game.

The Angels could have coasted to victory had they not gone 2-for-16 with men in scoring position.

But an eighth-inning sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Garret Anderson with the bases loaded that was caught in foul territory by Dye helped offset solo homers by Konerko in the fourth and Hall in the fifth.

Left-hander Horacio Ramirez (1-4), who gave up two hits while recording just one out, was the losing pitcher. Lefty Joe Saunders (15-7) gave up only four hits in 71/3 innings to get the win.